Relentless Heatwave Scorches Northern and Central India for Sixth Consecutive Day

 New Delhi, June 15, 2025 — A persistent and punishing heatwave continued to sear vast stretches of north and central India for the sixth straight day on Saturday, with maximum temperatures breaching the 45°C mark in several cities and unusually high temperatures reported even in the Himalayan states.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures were recorded at more than 5.1°C above seasonal averages in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya. Isolated pockets in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim also reported similar anomalies. Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir witnessed significantly above-normal temperatures, raising alarms among climate scientists and disaster management authorities.

Experts have flagged the intensifying heat in the hill states as particularly concerning, warning that prolonged high temperatures could accelerate glacial melting, elevate the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and heighten forest fire vulnerability across sensitive mountain ecosystems.

Among the hottest locations on Saturday were Sri Ganganagar and Churu in Rajasthan, which recorded maximum temperatures of 46.5°C—5°C and 4.1°C above normal, respectively. In Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj reached 45°C, while Kanpur and Ghazipur logged 44.9°C and 44.5°C, the latter being a staggering 6.3°C above the seasonal average.

Madhya Pradesh also faced extreme conditions, with Hoshangabad registering 45.2°C, followed by Khajuraho (44.7°C), Nowgong (44.6°C), and Gwalior (42.5°C).

Delhi Faces Dangerous Heat Index

In the national capital, the heat remained unrelenting. Aya Nagar and Palam recorded maximum temperatures of 42.2°C and 42°C, respectively. Factoring in high humidity, Delhi’s heat index—a measure of perceived temperature—soared to an alarming 53.8°C, pushing health risks to critical levels.

While May saw relatively cooler conditions, thanks to early monsoon onset and sporadic thunderstorms, the first half of June has been markedly different. Rainfall sharply declined after June 7, triggering a dramatic rise in temperatures across multiple states from June 8–9, leading to widespread and prolonged heatwave conditions.

Traditionally cooler regions such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir have not been spared, with all three reporting significantly higher-than-usual temperatures in recent days.

Monsoon Progress Offers Hope

The IMD's extended range forecast indicates that the southwest monsoon is likely to advance over the remaining parts of central and eastern India, as well as parts of northwest India, by June 18. Most of northwest India, including Delhi, is expected to receive monsoon showers between June 19 and 25, with Delhi likely to witness its first significant rainfall between June 22 and 23—several days ahead of its typical onset date of June 30.

The southwest monsoon usually sets in over Kerala around June 1, reaches Mumbai by June 11, and covers the entire country by July 8. It begins retreating from northwest India around September 17 and completes its withdrawal by October 15.

Rising Heat-Related Health Concerns

India’s vulnerability to extreme heat events has come under renewed focus. In 2023 alone, government hospitals reported nearly 48,000 heatstroke cases and 159 confirmed deaths. National Crime Records Bureau data reveals that 8,171 heat-related deaths occurred outside hospital settings between 2015 and 2022, while Health Ministry data shows 3,812 deaths from heat exposure in hospitals during the same period.

Public health experts caution that the actual toll is likely to be significantly higher, citing gaps in reporting mechanisms and the inherent difficulty in directly attributing deaths to heat stress, especially in rural and informal settings.

With climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, authorities face mounting pressure to improve preparedness, invest in heat-resilient infrastructure, and implement robust early warning systems to mitigate the toll of future heatwaves.